Introducing Web 2.0: weblogs and podcasting for health librarians

Abstract

Eugene Barsky 34 Discussion is rampant amongst libraries and information industries about what is Web 2.0. One thing, I believe, is clear now; Web 2.0 isn’t a standard in almost any sense of the word. Most concepts behind this term are constructive, building on today’s best and improving for the future. Stephen Abram suggested in his recent Information Outlook article that Web 2.0 is about the more human aspects of interactivity on the Web: “It is about conversations, interpersonal networking, personalization and individualism” [1]. Frequently, our users want to experience the Web; they want to learn and succeed. And we have to provide the tools and context so they can do just that. As the technology infrastructure of Web 2.0 is still complex and constantly evolving, Web 2.0 is ultimately a social phenomenon of users’ experience of the Web and is characterized by open communication, decentralization of authority, and freedom to share and re-use Web content. Many new technologies are emerging under the Web 2.0 umbrella: really simple syndication (RSS), wikis, weblogs, comments functionality, Web personalization, photo sharing (Flickr, Zooomr), social networking software, AJAX and API programming (Google maps), streaming media, podcasting and MP3 files, social bookmarking, open source software, user driven ratings, and open access content. My intent is to discuss some of these technologies and to see how we, as health sciences librarians and medical librarians, can integrate them into our daily practice. I started this series of articles by covering RSS use in medicine [2]. In this installment I am discussing weblogging and podcasting. If you are interested, please see my coverage of social networking and social bookmarking and tagging in the next issue of the Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association.